ES2824464T3 - Single item access drawer - Google Patents

Abstract

A point of care (POC) system comprising a dispensing cabinet (30) comprising: a casing (32) comprising a containment bag (38) configured to receive a secondary drawer (50) for access to a single item ; and a first processor (40) disposed within the housing; and a secondary SIA drawer (50) comprising: a body (52) configured to be secured within the containment bag, the body comprising a compartment (60); a lid (62) coupled to the body, the lid selectively lockable in a closed position that closes the compartment; a cap pin (66) coupled to the body (52) and configured to selectively lock and release the cap (62); a secondary drawer pin (58) coupled to the body (52) and configured to selectively engage and release a retention hook (39) from the containment bag (38); and a second processor (72) coupled to the lid latch (66) and the secondary drawer latch (58), the second processor (72) configured to cause (i) the lid latch (66) to release the lid (62 ) upon receiving a lid release signal, and (ii) the secondary drawer pin (58) releases the containment bag retention hook (38) upon receiving a secondary drawer release signal from the first processor (40 ), wherein: the secondary drawer pin (58) includes a slide member (57) coupled to a motor included in the secondary drawer pin, wherein the slide member is captured in a guide, the slide member engages a swivel member (59) that rotates about a pin (53), and the system configured so that when the slide member is extended, the swivel member engages the retention hook and prevents the secondary drawer (50) from remove from the containment bag (38), and the system configured so that when or the sliding member retracts, the rotating member disengages from the retention hook (39) and allows the secondary drawer to be removed from the containment bag (38).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Single item access drawer

Background

Countryside

The present invention relates generally to safe and portable containers and, in particular, to an attachable multi-compartment secondary drawer with closing lids.

Description of Related Art

Hospitals typically manage the storage and dispensing of medications for patients using an Automated Dispensing Machine (ADM). The ADM is usually located near or in the nurse's office and contains items that meet the needs of patients in a designated area within the hospital.

A common problem with ADMs is that the nurse must make multiple trips between a patient's bedside and the ADM during patient care. The nurse must first travel from her current location, often the nursing station, to the patient to determine the patient's needs. When a medication is required, the nurse must then return to the nurse's office, log into the ADM and identify the desired medication, whereupon the ADM dispenses the medication to the nurse. The nurse must then go back to the patient to administer the medication, after which the nurse returns to nursing control or another activity.

Another problem with ADMs is that a single ADM cannot contain all the medications used by the hospital. Some drugs are used so infrequently that a dose of the drug in a typical ADM is likely to expire before a patient requires it. Some drugs are expensive and hospitals cannot afford to store these drugs in places where they are not currently prescribed to a patient. When one of these medications is re-prescribed, a pharmacist or pharmacy technician must take the recently prescribed medication to the ADM closest to the patient and load the medication into the ADM. This often requires the withdrawal of a different drug from the ADM to provide space for the new drug.

A current system for safely transporting medications includes single compartment receptacles that have a closure cap, which are secure during transport and can only be opened when attached to an appropriate docking station. Such a transportable receptacle is disclosed in US Patent 6,116,461 to Broadfield et al, which is incorporated herein by reference. US Patent 6,116,461 discloses that the pharmacy uses a docking station to open the receptacle and load one or more doses of a drug into the receptacle. The receptacle is then transported to a Dm which is equipped with a drawer having docking stations and is placed in one of the drawer docking stations.

The medications in the receptacle are then available to be dispensed to the nurses in the ADM. A potential drawback of this system is that each receptacle contains a single drug, whereas a normal patient in a hospital can receive a dozen or more drugs.

Document EP2312099A2 discloses a device for storing large and / or small items. The device has a drawer-cabinet comprising drawers that are locked in the cabinet by electrically controllable drawer locking devices. Drawer flaps can be locked onto the drawers by electrically controllable flap locking devices. The flap locking devices are in control connection with a controller by an electrical contact element which is electrically connected with a counter contact element in the drawer-cupboard in a closed position of the drawers. Flap Locks are designed as double acting locking devices that move between open and closed positions. United States patent 20040108795A1 refers to an assembly comprising a plurality of compartments with a plurality of lids associated therewith. Each of the compartments has a locking assembly that includes a latch operable to lock the lid in its closed position and a mechanical indicator in response to the latch. The document further relates to an automated dispensing cabinet that includes a control computer and a plurality of drawers having a plurality of row sets therein. Each row assembly has compartments that include a tabbed lid, a locking assembly with a latch that can be actuated to engage and disengage from the flange, and an indicator that responds to the lock assembly.

Document EP1036365B1 discloses a dispensing apparatus for the controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical and medical supplies, including a cabinet having a plurality of drawers, each drawer having a plurality of receptacles, each of the receptacles dimensioned to contain an article, and which it has a lid movable between a closed position and an open position. Selectively operable latches are provided to releasably hold the lid in the closed position, the latches include an electrically responsive actuator cable connected to the latches and causing movement of the latches in response to an electrical current supplied to the electrically responsive actuator cable. A processor is in communication with the selectively operable lock and is configured to send a signal to the electrically responsive actuator cable to unlock the lid.

Document KR1020090078984 A discloses a fabric treatment apparatus including a cabinet, a drawer, an exciter, a drawer handle and a controller. The drawer forms a space to receive clothes and is inserted into or removed from the closet. The drawer handle attaches to the front side of the drawer. The controller is attached to the drawer handle and controls the operation of the exciter.

Document JPH0546209A discloses a portable personal computer comprising a controller that controls the action of industrial machinery. In this case, the portable personal computer is mounted in a drawer and stored in a window provided on the surface of the operating side of the controller. When the drawer is brought out of the window in the outer direction, a cover of the portable personal computer can be opened and a display screen or keyboard provided on the cover can be used. When the portable personal computer is not in use, the computer can be folded as in its original condition and stored in the window, and therefore, even when the new space is not prepared in the external part of the industrial machinery, the portable personal computer can be compatible.

Summary

Claim 1 discloses the present invention. Preferred embodiments are disclosed by claims 2-8. It is desirable to provide a system and method for providing multiple patient-specific medications so that the medications can be stored and dispensed in the patient's room or, if stored in an ADM, can be efficiently moved from one ADM to another when the patient moves from one care area to another. It is also desirable to provide single-dose drug storage to reduce the time it takes to dispense a drug.

The invention is defined in the claims.

In certain aspects, a secondary single-item access (SIA) drawer is disclosed that includes a body comprising at least one fixed internal wall dividing the body into a plurality of compartments and a plurality of lids coupled to the body to respectively close the plurality of compartments. Each lid has a closed position and a lid hook. The SIA secondary drawer also includes a plurality of lid pins attached to the body and configured to respectively engage the lid hook of one of the plurality of lids when the lid is in the closed position, a secondary drawer pin attached to the body, and configured to engage a retaining hook of an external system, a communication interface configured to communicate with an external device, and a processor coupled to the plurality of lid pins, the secondary drawer pin, and the communication interface. The processor is configured to receive signals from the external device through the communication interface, to cause one of the plurality of selectable cap pins to release the respective cap hook upon receiving a cap release signal, and to cause the secondary drawer pin releases the retention hook upon receiving a secondary drawer release signal.

In certain respects, a point-of-care (POC) system is disclosed that includes a dispensing cabinet (DC) and a secondary SIA drawer. The DC includes a housing with a containment bag and retention hook and a first processor disposed within the housing.

The POC system also includes a SIA secondary drawer that has a body configured to be fixed within the containment bag in which the body comprises a compartment, a body-coupled lid in which the lid can be selectively fixed in a closed position that closes the compartment, a lid pin coupled to the body and configured to secure the lid, a secondary drawer pin coupled to the body and configured to selectively engage and release a retention hook, and a second processor coupled to the lid pin and the secondary drawer pin. The second processor is configured to cause the secondary drawer pin to release the retention hook upon receiving a secondary drawer release signal from the first processor.

In certain aspects, a method of providing specific medicaments for the patient is disclosed. The method includes the step of coupling an SIA secondary drawer into a loading station wherein the SIA secondary drawer includes a body comprising a compartment, a lid coupled to the body and selectively lockable in a closed position that closes the compartment, a pin lid attached to the body and configured to secure the lid, a secondary drawer pin attached to the body and configured to selectively engage and release a retention hook, and a processor attached to the lid latch and secondary drawer pin on the that the processor is configured to cause the lid pin to release the lid upon receiving a lid release signal. The method also includes the steps of providing a lid release signal to the processor to thereby release the lid and thereby allow access to the compartment, loading into the compartment at least one dose of a prescribed medication for a specified patient, closing the lid, remove the SIA secondary drawer from the loading station, transport the SIA secondary drawer to a DC that is located in a specified patient POC in which the DC has a containment bag and retention hook, and load the SIA secondary drawer into the containment bag so that the pin on the secondary drawer engages the retaining hook on the DC.

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included for further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:

Figure 1 depicts a portion of a conventional dispensing cart that is used to carry medications and supplies to patient rooms.

Figure 2 depicts an exemplary SIA secondary drawer in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 depicts an exemplary DC in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the secondary pin drawer of a drawer side SIA loaded in a containment bag of D ^c in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of certain active elements of an embodiment of the SIA secondary drawer in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 6 is a block diagram of certain active elements of an embodiment of the DC in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 7 depicts an ADM configured to accept SIA secondary drawers in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 8 depicts an exemplary ADM drawer configured to accept full height embodiments of SIA secondary drawers in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 9 depicts an ADM drawer module having multiple drawers in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 10 is a flow chart of an exemplary process for providing medication to a patient in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Detailed description

The following description discloses embodiments of a patient-specific dispensing system that includes a DC and multi-compartment secondary drawers containing the medications for a specific patient. In certain embodiments, the DC mounts to the wall of the specific patient's room. In some embodiments, each compartment of the secondary drawer contains a single dose of a drug. However, while described in the context of a patient's room, embodiments of the present disclosure may also be located in areas other than the patient's room.

The detailed description that follows is intended to be a description of various configurations of the technology in question and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the technology in question can be practiced. The accompanying drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding of the technology in question. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the technology in question can be put into practice without these specifics. In some cases, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the concepts of the technology in question. Similar components are labeled with identical item numbers for easy understanding.

As used in this disclosure, the term "hook" is defined as a retention feature that has a catch surface configured to engage by a latch member. The retention feature may be configured with an open catching surface such as a protrusion or protrusion or a closed feature such as a bag or loop. Any feature that can be captured and retained and then selectively released by a second feature falls within the scope of this term. As used in this disclosure, the term "spring" is defined as any element that creates a resistance force when deformed in a first direction, wherein the resistance force is applied in a second direction opposite to the first direction. . Examples of springs include blocks of a compressible elastic material, bands of a stretchable elastic material, plastic cantilevers, and metal coils.

As used in this disclosure, the term "pin" is defined as any device in which a first part is caused to move relative to a second part by the application of electricity. As an example, the first part can be a shaft or rotor and the second part can be a housing or stator. Another example is a solenoid, in which the first part is the moving core and the second part is the stationary coil. The pin can include other mechanisms or elements that engage one or both of the first and second parts. These other elements can selectively engage and disengage hooks or other retention features by moving one of the first and second parts. The force between the first and second part can be created by the interaction of one or more of the permanent magnets, metal elements, and electrical circuits. A pin can include electrical components that control the flow of electricity through one or more portions of the motor, including one or more than a switch such as a transistor, a sensing element such as a Hall effect sensor, a control element such as a processor and a signal handling device such as a transceiver. A pin can include digital electronics to accept commands and provide signals to other electronic devices.

As used in this disclosure, the term "point of care" or "POC" is defined as any place where care is administered. Although embodiments of the present disclosure describe a patient's room in a hospital such as the POC, other locations are included within the scope of a POC, such as a treatment area of an oncology department or a patient's home. As used in this disclosure, the term "dispensing cabinet" or "DC" is defined as any device that provides a containment bag adapted to securely receive a secondary SIA drawer. Although embodiments of the present disclosure describe a wall-mounted DC, other types of devices such as a cabinet anchored to a counter or a cabinet anchored to a mobile cart are included within the scope of a DC.

As used in this description, the term "motor" is defined as a device that causes movement in response to the provision of electrical power. Non-limiting examples of motors include a linear solenoid, a shape memory alloy or "muscle" wire, and a rotating unit, which may include one or more conductive coils and permanent magnets. A motor can also include active or passive elements that control or modulate the supplied electrical energy, for example, switches, filters, and processors.

Figure 1 depicts a portion of a conventional dispensing cart 20 used to carry medications and supplies to patient rooms. A cart 20 can be loaded with all the medications prescribed for a group of patients and later the cart 20 will move from one room to another when a nurse carries out a round of administration of medications for that group of patients to have all the medications available at or near the point of care. Cart 20 typically has a number of drawers 24 mounted in a closed housing 22. Each compartment 26 of drawer 24 may contain a different drug. The drawers 24 themselves can often be locked, but once the drawer 24 is opened, the entire contents of the drawer 24 are available.

Medications prescribed for different patients can be kept in separate drawers 24 or they can be kept in a common drawer 24. Such a cart 20 typically does not provide the access control and drug dispensing tracking that is desirable.

In an ideal medical setting, all medications that a particular patient may require are available at the patient's bedside, so that a nurse can assess the patient's condition, obtain an appropriate medication for the treatment of the patient's condition, and administer the medication to the patient without leaving the bedside. Being able to complete the care task in a minimal amount of time and without interruption improves patient care and reduces both stress and nurse workload. At the same time, security is important to prevent patient self-administration and potential theft, so access to medications must be secure. Previous attempts to provide Patient-specific medications at the bedside have suffered from the complexity and excessive amount of work required to administer multiple medications and withdraw them later when they are no longer needed for a specific patient.

The SIA secondary drawer described herein provides the ability to administer and withdraw multiple medications in a single container and can also provide single-dose access to further reduce the workload of the nurse and pharmacists.

Figure 2 depicts an exemplary secondary drawer 50 in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. Secondary drawer 50 has a body 52 with at least one compartment 60. In certain embodiments, the body comprises at least one fixed internal wall 54 that divides the body 52 into a plurality of compartments 60. The fixed nature of the walls 54 reduces the probability that a user having access to one compartment 60 will be able to access another compartment 60. The secondary drawer 50 also has at least one lid 62 coupled to the body 52 to respectively cover and close the compartment 60. In certain embodiments, the secondary drawer 50 comprises a plurality of lids 62 configured to respectively cover and close the plurality of compartments 60. In certain embodiments, lids 62 are hinged as shown in Figure 2. Each lid 62 has a closed position, shown in Figure 2 by the position of the lid 62A, and, in certain embodiments, a lid hook 64. The secondary drawer 50 also includes a lid pin 66 coupled to The body 50 and configured to fix the lid in the closed position. In certain embodiments, the secondary drawer 50 comprises a plurality of lid pins 66 configured to respectively engage the lid hook 64 of one of the plurality of lids 62 when the lid 62 is in the closed position. In certain embodiments, cap pin 66 comprises a muscle wire. In certain embodiments, cap pin 66 comprises a motor (not visible in Figure 2). A secondary drawer pin 58 is coupled to body 50 and configured to engage a retaining hook (not shown in Figure 2) of an external system, for example a drawer as shown in Figure 4. When actuated, each lid pin 66 releases the respective lid hook 64. Likewise, the secondary drawer pin 58 releases the detent hook when actuated. In certain embodiments, secondary drawer 50 includes an electrical connector 56 mounted to body 52 and configured to removably mate with an external connector (not shown in Figure 2). The details of the active elements of the secondary drawer 50 are discussed with respect to Figure 4. In certain embodiments, the lid 62 is translucent or transparent so that a user can determine whether the compartment 60 contains items. In certain embodiments, the lid 62 is opaque which can reduce the temptation to enter the compartment. In certain embodiments, the lid 62 is configured to "open" when the lid 62 is released.

Figure 3 depicts an exemplary DC 30 in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The DC 30 includes a housing 32 with at least one containment bag 38. In certain embodiments, each containment bag 38 has at least one retention hook (not visible in Figure 3). The containment bag 38 can be provided in a variety of sizes, and Figure 3 shows a larger containment bag 38A suitable to receive a larger SIA 50 secondary drawer 50.

The details of the active elements of the DC 30 are discussed with respect to Figure 5.

An example of a SIA 50 secondary drawer is shown loaded and latched into one of the containment bags on the DC 30. It can be seen that the SIA 50 secondary drawer is still accessible and that the individual lids 62 can be opened to provide access to the compartment 60 respectively while the secondary SIA drawer 50 is disposed in the containment bag 38. In certain embodiments, the DC 30 includes one or more visual indicators 35, for example an LED light, a display notification 36, or the lid 62 "Popping up" to indicate to the user that the lid 62 is unlocked. In certain embodiments, the DC 30 includes one or more visual indicators 35, for example an LED light, an on-screen notification 36, or the SIA secondary drawer 50 "popping up", to indicate to the user that the SIA secondary drawer 50 it unlocks.

In certain embodiments, multiple lids 62 are opened simultaneously to provide all medications required for administration on a standard time, eg, the 8:00 AM round. In certain embodiments, a first compartment contains a first medication and a second compartment contains a second medication to be administered with the first medication, and therefore a request to dispense the first medication results in the caps 62 of both compartments 60 are opened and a message is provided on screen 36 to remind the nurse to remove and administer both medications. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the secondary drawer pin 58 of an SIA secondary drawer 50 loaded into a containment bag 38 of a DC 30 in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. A portion of the housing 32 and a portion of the body 52 have been cut to reveal the secondary drawer pin 58 and associated elements. A retention hook 39 is attached to the bottom of the containment bag 38. In this exemplary embodiment, the secondary drawer pin 58 includes a slide member 57 captured in a guide 55 and coupled to a motor (not visible in the Figure 4) which is part of the secondary drawer pin 58. The slide member 57 is coupled to a rotatable member 59 that pivots about a pin 53. When the slide member 57 is extended, as shown in Figure 4, the member swivel engages retaining hook 39 and thus prevents the secondary drawer 50 from being removed from the containment bag 38. When the slide member 57 is retracted, that is, it moves up and to the left in the view of Figure 4, the rotating member 59 rotates counterclockwise and disengages from retention hook 39, thus allowing secondary drawer 50 to be removed from containment bag 38.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of certain active elements of one embodiment of the SIA secondary drawer 50 in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. Secondary drawer 50 includes processor 72 coupled to memory 76, communication interface 74, lid actuators 66, and secondary drawer actuator 58. In certain embodiments, processor 72 is configured to receive signals from an external device to via communication interface 74. These signals may include one or more of a lid release signal and a secondary drawer release signal. In certain embodiments, the processor 72 is further configured to cause one of the plurality of cap pins 66 to release the respective cap hook 64 upon receiving a cap release signal. In certain embodiments, processor 72 is further configured to cause secondary drawer pin 58 to release latch hook 39 upon receiving a secondary drawer release signal.

In certain embodiments, processor 72 is configured to accept signals comprising information comprising at least one of a patient ID, a drug ID, a drug dose, and a drug expiration date from a device. external via communication interface 74. The processor will store the accepted information in memory 76. In certain embodiments, this information is retrieved from memory 76 by processor 72 and provided to the external device via communication interface 74.

Figure 6 is a block diagram of certain active elements of an embodiment of the DC 30 in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The DC 30 includes a processor 40 coupled to a memory 42, a communication interface 41, and a user interface 43. In certain embodiments, the user interface 43 includes a display 44 and a keyboard 46. In certain embodiments, the user interface user 43 includes a touch screen 45. In certain embodiments, user interface 43 includes a biometric scanner, such as a fingerprint reader, referred to herein as a "bio-ID" 47. In certain embodiments, the interface User ID 43 is configured to accept input from a user which may include one or more of a user ID, a password, a biometric scan image, a request to remove a dose of a drug from the SIA secondary drawer 50, a request for access to one of the compartments 60 of the secondary drawer SIA 50 and a request to remove the secondary drawer SIA 50 of the DC 30.

In certain embodiments, memory 42 contains information including the authorization required to access the contents of each compartment of a secondary SIA drawer 50 that is loaded into the DC 30 and the authorization level of each group of users. The processor 40 is configured to accept an identification from a user who is requesting a drug contained in one of the compartments 60, to retrieve from memory 42 the information about the authorization necessary to access the drug and the authorization level of the user who is requesting it. requests, to compare the authorization required to access the drug and the authorization level of the user who is requesting the drug and determine if the drug should be dispensed to this user. If the determination is that the medication is to be dispensed, the processor 40 is configured to provide the appropriate lid release signal to the SIA secondary drawer 50 to cause the appropriate lid 62 to open and allow the user access to the required medication. If the determination is that the medication should not be dispensed to this user, the processor 40 is configured to transmit an error message to the user through the user interface 43. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by displaying a message from display error 44.

In certain embodiments, memory 42 contains information including the authorization necessary to release the secondary SIA drawer 50 that is loaded into the DC 30 and the authorization level of each group of users. The processor 40 is configured to accept an identification of a user who is requesting to release the SIA secondary drawer 50, retrieve from memory 42 the information about the authorization necessary to release the SIA secondary drawer 50 and the authorization level of the requesting user, compare the authorization required to access the drug and the authorization level of the user requesting the drug and determine if the drug should be dispensed to this user. If the determination is that the SIA secondary drawer 50 is to be released, the processor 40 is configured to provide the appropriate secondary drawer release signal to the SIA secondary drawer 50 to cause the secondary drawer actuator 58 to release the retention hook 39 and allow that the user removes the SIA secondary drawer 50. If the determination is that this user should not remove the SIA secondary drawer 50, the processor 40 is configured to transmit an error message to the user through the user interface 43. In certain cases In embodiments, this is accomplished by displaying an error message on screen 44.

Figure 7 depicts an ADM 100 configured to accept secondary drawers 50 in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The ADM 100 has a control top 102 and a cabinet 110. The control top 102 includes a user interface 108 which, in certain embodiments, includes a display 104 and a keyboard 106. Cabinet 110 is configured to accept multiple types of drawers. In certain embodiments, a drawer 112 that is configured to accept full-height embodiments of the secondary drawer SIA 50 is installed in cabinet 110. In certain embodiments, drawers 114 and 116 are installed in cabinet 110 that are configured to accept embodiments of average height of secondary drawer. In certain embodiments, other types of drawers are also installed in cabinet 110.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary ADM drawer 112 configured to accept full-height embodiments of SIA secondary drawers 50 in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

In this example, drawer 112 has two 6x1 SIA 50A sub-drawers, a 2x2 SIA 50B sub-drawer, and a 2x1 SIA 50C sub-drawer loaded. In certain embodiments, drawer 112 is configured to accept any type of SIA secondary drawer in any position. For example, drawer 112 of Figure 8 is configured with six rows of six positions. The "2x" configurations 50B, 50C of the secondary SIA drawers 50 could be placed in either of the two adjacent open rows. In certain embodiments, drawer 112 provides a retaining hook and electrical connector for connection to connector 56 in every possible position that a secondary SIA drawer 50 of any configuration could be loaded.

Figure 9 depicts a drawer module 120 having multiple drawers 114, 116 in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The drawer module 120 is adapted to allow the installation of half-height drawers 114, 116 in a cabinet 110 that is configured to accept only full-height drawers. Drawer module 120 has a full-height chassis 122 that is externally configured to be installed in cabinet 110 and internally configured to accept mid-height drawers 114, 116. In this example, drawer 114 is configured to accept height embodiments SIA 50D, 50E, and 50F secondary drawers 50D, 50E, and 50F secondary drawers. Drawer 116 may be configured to accept 50D, 50E, and 50F mid-height SIA secondary drawers or it may be a different type of drawer.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart 200 of an exemplary process for providing medication to a patient in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The process begins in step 202 by loading at least one dose of at least one drug into the compartments 60 of a secondary SIA drawer 50, while the secondary SIA drawer 50 is docked in a loading station. In certain embodiments, this drug loading takes place at the pharmacy. In certain embodiments, this drug loading takes place at a central pharmacy, provider facility, or other off-site location. In certain embodiments, only a single dose of a drug is loaded into any compartment 60. In certain embodiments, multiple doses are loaded into one or more compartments 60.

In step 204, the process branches depending on whether the secondary SIA drawer 50 was loaded in step 202 for a specific patient or for a blanket device. If the SIA secondary drawer 50 is configured for a single patient, the procedure branches along the 'yes' path to step 220 where the patient-specific SIA secondary drawer 50 is moved to a DC 30 located at or near the room assigned to the patient. Once loaded into the DC 30, the drugs contained in the secondary SIA drawer 50 are available to be withdrawn, that is, dispensed, as shown in step 222 and administered to the patient. Once all medications have been removed from the SIA secondary drawer 50, the process moves to step 224 where the empty SIA secondary drawer 50 is removed from the Dc 30 and returned to the pharmacy for reuse. If the SIA secondary drawer 50 has been filled with medications to cover a plurality of patients, the procedure branches from step 204 along the 'no' route to step 210, where the SIA secondary drawer 50 is moves to an ADM and is loaded into a drawer 112 that is configured to accept this embodiment of a secondary SIA drawer 50. At step 212, users request medications that are contained in one of the compartments 60 of the secondary SIA drawer 50 and the ADM sends the appropriate lid release signal to the secondary drawer SIA which causes the appropriate lid 62 to open and allows the user access to the compartment containing the requested medication. Once all medications have been removed from the secondary SIA 50 drawer, the process moves to step 214 in which either a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician reloads the empty SIA 50 secondary drawer into place in the ADM. 100 or the SIA 50 secondary drawer is removed from the DC 30 and returned to the pharmacy for reuse.

The disclosed examples of a SIA secondary drawer illustrate the construction of a multi-compartment controlled access device configured to safely transport medications between the pharmacy and a DC located in or near a room assigned to a patient. There is a significant time savings in eliminating repeated trips to and from the patient's location and the nearest ADM to pick up medications. The provision of multiple separately accessible compartments allows the system to be configured to allow safe access to only a single dose of medication at a time, thus eliminating the need to count items from a compartment when removing an item, as well as reducing the risk that a user may eliminate more doses than prescribed for a patient.

The specific order or hierarchy of steps or blocks in the disclosed processes is understood to be an illustration of exemplary approaches. Based on design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of stages or blocks in processes can be reorganized. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in an exemplary order and are not intended to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The above description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein can be applied to other aspects. Therefore, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be granted the full scope consistent with the language claims. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically stated, but rather "one or more". The use of the articles "un" and "una" is to be interpreted as equivalent to the phrase "at least one". Unless otherwise specified, the term "some" refers to one or more.

Pronouns in masculine include the feminine and neuter gender and vice versa. All structural and functional equivalents to elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or will later become known to those skilled in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be used by those of ordinary skill in the art. claims cover them. Furthermore, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No element of claim is to be construed under the provisions of Patent Act 35 USC § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means to" or, in the case of a method claim, the element recited using the phrase "operation to".

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated in detail, it should be clearly understood that it is by way of illustration and example only and should not be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. A point of care (POC) system comprising a dispensing cabinet (30) comprising: a casing (32) comprising a containment bag (38) configured to receive a secondary drawer (50) for access to a single article; and a first processor (40) disposed within the housing; Y a secondary SIA drawer (50) comprising: a body (52) configured to be secured within the containment bag, the body comprising a compartment (60); a lid (62) coupled to the body, the lid selectively lockable in a closed position that closes the compartment; a cap pin (66) coupled to the body (52) and configured to selectively lock and release the cap (62); a secondary drawer pin (58) coupled to the body (52) and configured to selectively engage and release a retention hook (39) from the containment bag (38); Y a second processor (72) coupled to the lid latch (66) and the secondary drawer latch (58), the second processor (72) configured to cause (i) the lid latch (66) to release the lid (62) upon receiving a lid release signal, and (ii) the secondary drawer pin (58) releases the containment bag retention hook (38) upon receiving a secondary drawer release signal from the first processor (40) , in which: The secondary drawer pin (58) includes a slide member (57) coupled to a motor included in the secondary drawer pin, wherein the slide member is captured in a guide, The slide member engages a rotating member (59) that rotates around a pin (53), and the system configured so that when the slide member is extended, the rotating member engages the retaining hook and prevents it from The secondary drawer (50) is removed from the containment bag (38), and the system configured so that when the sliding member is retracted, the rotating member disengages from the retention hook (39) and allows the secondary drawer to remove from containment bag (38). 2. The POC system of claim 1, wherein: the body (52) comprises a plurality of compartments (60); the SIA secondary drawer (50) comprises a plurality of lids (62) and a plurality of lid pins (66) that are configured to selectively lock and release the respective lid (66); Y The second processor (72) is coupled to the plurality of cap pins (66) and configured to cause one of the plurality of selectable cap pins (66) to release the respective cap (66) upon receiving a release signal from the top. 3. The POC system of claim 1 or 2, wherein: the dispensing cabinet (30) further comprises a user interface (43) and a memory (42) containing information about a content of the secondary SIA drawer (50); the first processor is coupled to the user interface and memory; and the first processor is further configured to receive user input through the user interface to provide the lid release signal to the second processor if the user input includes a request for an item disposed within the secondary SIA drawer. 4. The POC system of claim 3, wherein: the memory also comprises information on an authorization required to access content in each compartment and on an authorization level of each user; Y The first processor is configured to retrieve the information on the authorization required to access the content in each compartment and on the authorization level of each user from memory, compare the authorization required to access the content in each compartment and the authorization level of each user requesting access, and determining whether access should be granted; the first processor is further configured to provide a cover release signal to the second processor if it is determined that access should be granted; Y the first processor is further configured not to provide a cover release signal to the second processor if it is determined that access should not be granted. The POC system of claim 3, wherein the memory further comprises information on an authorization required to release the secondary drawer SIA and on an authentication level of each user; Y the first processor is configured to retrieve the information about the authorization required to release the secondary SIA drawer and about the authorization level of each user from memory, compare the authorization required to release the secondary SIA drawer and the authorization level of each user requesting release and determining whether the secondary SIA drawer should be released; the first processor is further configured to provide an SIA secondary drawer release signal to the second processor if it is determined that the SIA secondary drawer should be released; and the first processor is further configured not to provide a secondary drawer release signal to the second processor if it is determined that the secondary SIA drawer should not be released. The POC system of claim 2, wherein the containment bag and the secondary SIA drawer are configured such that the lids of the secondary SIA drawer remain accessible when the secondary SIA drawer is clamped in the containment bag. The POC system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing cabinet (30) comprises at least one containment bag (38, 38A). The POC system of claim 1, wherein the secondary SIA drawer (50) comprises a memory (76) coupled to the second processor (72), wherein the second processor (72) is configured to accept information that comprises at least one of an identification of a patient, an identification of a drug and a dose of a drug, and for storing the information in memory (76).